The pairing of two such iconic bands will provide an interesting mix for fans, with SHINING’s DSBM roots matched with TAAKE’s Norwegian Black Metal roots. Over the years both bands have taken the basic premises of their respective genres, and, whilst remaining true to them, have consistently kept them fresh by expanding and experimenting, sometimes taking them in directions that have surprised fans, but always maintaining the highest quality in terms of writing and musicianship. Both Kvarforth and Hoest are, in fact, acknowledged to be two of the most exciting and dynamic live performers today.

On Friday the 13th of May, the Vulkan Arena in Oslo, Norway, will host a very special memorial concert, entitled DEATH IS COMPLETE. This night will honour the work and life of the late URGEHAL frontman TRONDR NEFAS and his departure from this life on the 13th of May 2012.

The concert will feature the unholy trinity of TRONDR NEFAS’ bands, URGEHAL, BEASTCRAFT and ENDEZZMA, who will share the stage for the first, and last, time.

The guest vocalists who will be performing with URGEHAL on this night will be none other than:

In a statement issued today, SHINING founder and frontman Niklas Kvarforth confirmed that the band had reached an agreement with former label, Spinefarm Records, that would see the label re-releasing three of SHINING’s recordings, which, according to Kvarforth, “have all been unavailable for a few years due to several “inconvenient” matters”.

The frontman went on to say: “SHINING’s seventh full-length album “VII / Född Förlorare” and the “Lots Of Girls Gonna Get Hurt” EP will both appear in CD and Limited Edition vinyl formats, with the vinyl formats having one additional track each.

“But the best news of all is that “Redefining Darkness” will once again be available to those who missed out on its short-lived presence on the record market. The album will be available in both deluxe DIGIPAK and VINYL editions”.

The deluxe digipak edition of “Redefining Darkness”, and the vinyl editions of all three of the re-releases, have been re-mastered by Andy La Rocque at the Sonic Train Studios, and are now available to pre-order, along with new merchandise and bundles from www.shininglegions.com

With their second full-length album appearing in various “Best Of 2015 Releases” lists, and work beginning on a follow up, Sweden’s self-styled “Alfapokalyptic” rockers ALFAHANNE will be joined on stage by special guests during a couple of the band’s upcoming shows. OFERMOD’s R. Fjäll will appear with ALFAHANNE during their show at Copperfield’s in Stockholm on the 6th of February, and once again when the band plays on the Close-Up Båten Cruise which sets sail from Stockholm on the 10th of March. Also joining them on stage during the cruise will be KVELERTAK frontman Erlend Hjelvik.

ALFAHANNE are definitely no strangers to appearing either on stage or in the studio, and frequently both, with special guests who have included some iconic names in Extreme Metal, including TAAKE’s Hoest, SHINING’s Niklas Kvarforth, HELHEIM’s V’gandr, HORNA’s Spellgoth, SORHIN’s Nattfursth, and KVELERTAK’s Erlend Hjelvik. It is a testament to the band’s musical appeal that they have been able to tempt artists such as these to collaborate with them, whilst frontman Pehr Skjoldhammer has, in turn, guested on the latest album from HELHEIM and has frequently worked with SHINING and Niklas Kvarforth.

With their first two albums released on Dark Essence Records and a couple of decades of experience in bands such as VINTERLAND and early MAZE OF TORMENT, ALFAHANNE’s lineup is comprised of Pehr Skjoldhammer on Vocals and Guitar, Fredrik Sööberg on Guitars, Niklas Åström on Drums and Jimmy Wiberg on Bass. Their instantly recognisable brand of high energy Black Metal, which is liberally laced with Punk and Classic Rock, oozes swagger and attitude, and has proven to be a hit with fans and critics alike, whilst the infectious energy that permeates their stage shows consistently wins them plaudits and new fans from across a wide-ranging musical spectrum.

Fan-filmed video of ALFAHANNE performing the track “Indiehora” from their 2014 album “Alfapokalyps”, live on stage with HELHEIM’s V’gandr can be seen below and at http://youtu.be/ZUZpioeW_Gk or embedded using the following code:

NIKLAS KVARFORTH’s “When Prozac No Longer Helps” is set to be published in French by the Camion Noir Publishing House on the 19th of January. The French edition, titled “Quand Le Prozac Ne Suffit Plus”, contains the lyrics to SHINING’s songs and follows on the heels of the English and Turkish translations. With a cover photo by Natasha Mediator of Haste Malaise Photography, “Quand Le Prozac Ne Suffit Plus” is available from http://www.camionnoir.com/

Having tired of the shambolic, and mostly completely inaccurate translations of his lyrics that can be found on the internet, Kvarforth translated the texts from the original Swedish into English and published the first edition of “When Prozac No Longer Helps”, which sold out virtually immediately and is now in its third edition. The availability of the English translation of SHINING’s lyrics opened up the way for other publishers who showed an interest in translating the work into their own languages.

As always, though, Kvarforth has exacting standards when it comes to all things SHINING, and chooses his collaborators with care. For the French Edition he chose to work with long-time friend Nicolas Castelaux, who, in the ’90’s, earned notoriety as the “Vampire of Paris”. Having served a twelve year sentence Casatelaux went on to establish Camion Noir, a publishing house that specialises in the Occult, Dark History and True Crime. The two met up recently during the band’s recent French tour and Kvarforth agreed to the publication on the condition that Castelaux himself handled the translation.

Like this:

Following the announcement by Sweden’s SHINING that going forward they would be eschewing the usual practice of dragging bands on lengthy tours through several countries in favour of shorter tours on a country-by-country basis, the band have now completed booking European dates for the rest of this year and are able to announce their full “touring” schedule between September and the end of 2015.

During this period SHINING will visit a total of nine countries in support of their critically acclaimed ninth full-length album “IX / Everyone, Everything, Everywhere, Ends”. A special double gatefold edition of the album, in black and white marble vinyl, strictly limited to 300 copies, will be available for sale exclusively on the tour.

SHINING frontman and founder NIKLAS KVARFORTH previously explained the reason behind the band’s decision not to spend long periods of time on the road: “Basically we want to be able to give our audience the best show possible each time we are on stage. And weeks on the road stuck on a cramped, uncomfortable nightliner, with people you don’t even know and with no privacy in which to be able to rest and relax, is not conducive to any of us being able to give it our best on stage, particularly myself. So that’s something we will definitely not be doing. We have also decided that we do not want to be shunted into the usual venues that every tour seems to hit, but rather to choose to play better venues, with better facilities not only for ourselves, but also for the audience, wherever possible”.

Well known both on stage and in the studio for their brand of high energy Black Metal laced with Punk and Classic Rock, ALFAHANNE is a band that, since its inception in 2010, has managed to attract high profile musicians to guest with them not only on their releases but also live. TAAKE’s Hoest, HELHEIM’s V’gandr and SHINING’s Niklas Kvarforth all featured on the debut album “Alfapokalyps”, whilst on the new album, as well as Hjelvik, Spellgoth from HORNA and TURMION KÄTILÖT and Nattfursth from SORHIN add their distinctive styles and voices to the release. Also making a return appearance is SHINING’s Niklas Kvarforth, with whom ALFAHANNE has a history of collaboration.

Mastered by ENSLAVED’s Herbrand Larsen at Bergen’s Earshot Studios, and with artwork by Trine Grimm Lothe, “Blod Eld Alfa” features ALFAHANNE’s trademark sound, a sound that is full of the swagger and attitude that makes the band such a success both in the studio and on the stage.

With a lineup of musicians who have a couple of decades of experience under their belts in bands like VINTERLAND and early MAZE OF TORMENT, ALFAHANNE was formed in Eskilstuna, Sweden in 2010 and features Pehr Skjoldhammer on Vocals and Guitar, Fredrik Sööberg on Guitars, Niklas Åström on Drums and Jimmy Wiberg on Bass.